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Spring Festival at Johnson Farm is this weekend

People take part in the annual Spring Festival at Historic Johnson Farm on April 28, 2012.

Patrick Sullivan/Times-News

Special to the Times-News

Published: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 22, 2013 at 4:54 p.m.

The annual Spring Festival at Historic Johnson Farm will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the farm in Hendersonville. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for students and no charge for preschoolers and younger. Parking is free.

The public is invited to stroll the grounds and enjoy tours, demonstrations, wagon rides, food and entertainment.

New this year is the grand opening of the historic cottage used by "Etta" the summer cook's helper at the farm. The cottage reflects the simple life lived on a farm in the 1940s and 1950s.

Among the musical performers will be the Green Valley Cloggers, formed in 1978 and specializing in adult freestyle moves, and the Asheville Cloggers, bluegrass bands Canoe Grass and Boylston Creek, and a duo of dulcimer players.

Watch demonstrations of old-time Appalachian crafts and browse contemporary crafts for sale. Volunteers will host a bake sale featuring pound cakes, some based on the original Johnson family recipe. Other food for sale will include traditional festival favorites plus fried apple pies, corn dogs, snow cones and more.

Antique tractors will be on display, and guided tours through the 1880s farmhouse, believed to be the first brick home in Henderson County, will be offered. An authentic farm wagon will take visitors over the wooded country trail, and families can visit the farm's donkeys and sheep.

Tours of the former boarding house currently occupied by the Western North Carolina Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists will also be offered. There will be sheep-shearing demonstrations throughout the day, allowing visitors to follow the process of the sheep's wool from shearing, carding, spinning and weaving to learn how fabric is created.

Tours of the building with demonstrations of weaving, spinning, rug hooking, bobbin lace and knitting will be held.

<p>The annual Spring Festival at Historic Johnson Farm will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the farm in Hendersonville. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for students and no charge for preschoolers and younger. Parking is free.</p><p>The public is invited to stroll the grounds and enjoy tours, demonstrations, wagon rides, food and entertainment. </p><p>New this year is the grand opening of the historic cottage used by "Etta" the summer cook's helper at the farm. The cottage reflects the simple life lived on a farm in the 1940s and 1950s.</p><p>Among the musical performers will be the Green Valley Cloggers, formed in 1978 and specializing in adult freestyle moves, and the Asheville Cloggers, bluegrass bands Canoe Grass and Boylston Creek, and a duo of dulcimer players.</p><p>Watch demonstrations of old-time Appalachian crafts and browse contemporary crafts for sale. Volunteers will host a bake sale featuring pound cakes, some based on the original Johnson family recipe. Other food for sale will include traditional festival favorites plus fried apple pies, corn dogs, snow cones and more.</p><p>Antique tractors will be on display, and guided tours through the 1880s farmhouse, believed to be the first brick home in Henderson County, will be offered. An authentic farm wagon will take visitors over the wooded country trail, and families can visit the farm's donkeys and sheep. </p><p>Tours of the former boarding house currently occupied by the Western North Carolina Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists will also be offered. There will be sheep-shearing demonstrations throughout the day, allowing visitors to follow the process of the sheep's wool from shearing, carding, spinning and weaving to learn how fabric is created. </p><p>Tours of the building with demonstrations of weaving, spinning, rug hooking, bobbin lace and knitting will be held. </p><p>Festival sponsors are Carolina Village; Flavor 1st, Growers and Packers; Dr. Nigel Morgan, DDS; Pardee Hospital; Park Ridge Health; Macon Bank; the law firm of Campbell, Shatley PLLC; Garrison Family Dentistry; Mast General Store; the Health Adventure; and Tempo Music.</p><p>All proceeds from the festival support efforts to preserve the Historic Johnson Farm Heritage Education Center and partially funding field trips for Henderson County school children. </p><p>The farm is located at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, across from the Rugby Middle School. For more information, visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org or call 828-891-6585.</p>